Why Surveyors Are Switching to the Emlid Reach RS4
"Why did I spend $20k+ on a competitor's receiver when the Emlid Reach RS4 delivers the same performance?" It's the question we hear often from customers who've made the switch from Trimble™, Leica™, Topcon™, and others. Advanced features found only in premium-priced systems. Professional-grade accuracy at a fraction of the cost. Plus a fully-featured mobile data collector app for $35/month instead of thousands in hardware and annual licensing fees...
The industry has long dictated that premium performance demands premium pricing. Emlid disrupted that narrative. The RS4 delivers enterprise-level accuracy without the enterprise-level cost. For professionals ready to challenge conventional wisdom, the value proposition is undeniable—superior performance, lower total cost of ownership, and the freedom to reinvest savings into your business.
Emlid Reach RS4 – All-Band RTK GNSS Receiver with Tilt Compensation
Professional-grade GNSS accuracy. Without the premium price tag.
Centimeter Accuracy Under Canopy – L5 & L6 Multipath Rejection
The Reach RS4 GNSS receiver tracks all satellite constellations and frequencies, including L5 and L6 bands for superior multipath rejection. With 672 channels and 40+ satellite tracking capability, the Reach RS4 delivers centimeter-level positioning accuracy and reliable performance in challenging environments where other receivers struggle.
Advanced Tilt Compensation – Survey at Any Angle
Reach RS4 Tilt Compensation
The Reach RS4 delivers accurate results even at high tilt angles — for example, a 30° tilt still achieves 18 mm precision. The compensation mechanism activates with just a few moves and remains stable throughout the survey, saving time and avoiding the need for recalibration.
Factory-calibrated
Immune to interference
Faster initialization
No angle limit
REACH RS4
Quick release mount for tilt compensation
This mount is engineered for tilt compensation, eliminating backlash and locking your receiver securely to the survey pole. Even minimal wobble between device and pole can reduce accuracy during tilting operations. The quick-release mechanism delivers fast, dependable connection for consistent precision.
Use the RS4 as a Base or Rover
Connectivity – NTRIP, UHF Radio & LoRa
NTRIP
Work in RTK with VRS or a single baseline CORS network in RTCM3 format. You can also connect another GNSS receiver as an NTRIP base using Emlid NTRIP Caster
Dual-band radio
UHF 450 MHz
- Transmit and receive
- Up to 2W (may require a license)
- Compatible with Reach and 3rd-party receivers with TRIMTALK 450S support
LoRa 915 MHz
- Transmit and receive
- Up to 1W (license-free in North America)
- Compatible with Reach receivers
Who Is the Emlid Reach RS4 For?
Land surveyors replacing aging Trimble™ or Leica™ receivers without the $20,000+ price tag. Construction contractors needing centimeter-accurate stakeout and as-built verification. Drone operators setting up a PPK base station and GCP rover on a single receiver. Civil engineers working under tree canopy or in urban environments where multipath rejection matters. Farmers and ag-tech professionals adding RTK to grade control and variable-rate workflows.
If you need all-band GNSS performance with professional tilt compensation — and the dual cameras on the RS4 Pro aren't part of your workflow — the RS4 is the same GNSS engine at a lower price.
Emlid Reach RS4 vs RS4 Pro – Which Is Right for You?
The RS4 and RS4 Pro share identical GNSS performance, identical constellation and frequency tracking (including L5 and L6 bands), and the same advanced tilt compensation. The only difference is the dual Full HD cameras on the RS4 Pro, which enable augmented reality stakeout and image-based measurement workflows.
Choose the Reach RS4 if you need full RTK performance and tilt compensation without visual stakeout. Or use the RS4 as an RTK base station when surveying with the RS4 Pro.
Choose the Reach RS4 Pro if your workflow benefits from overlaying stakeout designs directly onto the camera view, or measuring points from captured images.
Aerospace-Grade Magnesium Alloy Construction
Built with premium magnesium alloy—the same material trusted in aerospace and high-performance electronics—the RS4 delivers exceptional strength without the weight. Lightweight yet durable construction ensures reliable performance in demanding field conditions.
16-Hour Battery Life for Full-Day Surveying
Power through your longest workdays with confidence. The RS4's optimized power management system delivers all-day performance, minimizing downtime and maximizing productivity in the field.
IP68 Waterproof & Dustproof Construction
Work with confidence in any weather condition. The RS4's IP68-rated waterproof design protects against dust, rain, and submersion, ensuring reliable operation in challenging outdoor environments.
Operates from -40°C to +65°C – Built for Extreme Conditions
Engineered to perform in extreme conditions from -40°C to +65°C. Whether surveying in arctic cold or desert heat, the RS4 maintains precision and reliability across the full temperature spectrum.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Emlid Reach RS4
The RS4 and RS4 Pro have identical GNSS performance, identical constellation and frequency tracking including L5 and L6 bands, and the same advanced tilt compensation. The only difference is the dual Full HD cameras on the RS4 Pro, which enable augmented reality stakeout and image-based measurement. If you don't need the visual stakeout workflow, the RS4 delivers the same centimeter-accurate positioning at a lower price.
Yes. The RS4 functions as either a base or a rover, with NTRIP, UHF radio (450 MHz, up to 2W), or LoRa (915 MHz, up to 1W, license-free in North America) for transmitting corrections.
Emlid Flow on iOS and Android is included. It's also compatible with Esri® ArcGIS® Field Maps, QField, Survey123®, and other third-party apps via Bluetooth NMEA output.
16 hours as an RTK rover with tilt compensation active. Charges via USB-C Power Delivery.
Yes. Set up the RS4 as a base, log raw GNSS data in RINEX format to internal storage (16 GB), and post-process against your drone flight data.
The 915 MHz LoRa radio is license-free in North America. The 450 MHz UHF radio at higher power output may require a license depending on jurisdiction.
Yes. Northern Plains is an authorized Emlid dealer. Your unit ships with full Emlid warranty, and we handle warranty claims directly so you don't have to deal with overseas support queues.
Each Emlid Reach RS4 ships with: Reach RS4 receiver, Carrying case, USB Type-C cable, LoRa antenna (860–930 MHz), UHF antenna (410–470 MHz).
Emlid Flow App – Use Your Phone as the Data Collector
The Reach RS4 comes with Emlid Flow, a comprehensive mobile and cloud solution compatible with both iOS and Android. It keeps your team aligned and your projects on track while supporting various site tasks.
Emlid Reach RS4 Specifications
Reach RS4 Datasheet 135 kbMechanical
Dimensions
128.6 x 128.6 x 99.3 mm
Weight
927 g (2.04 lb)
Operating temperatures
-40 to +65 °C
Ingress protection
IP68
Electrical
Autonomy
16 hrs as RTK rover with tilt
Battery
Li-Ion 5000 mAh, 7.2 V
36 Wh
36 Wh
Charging
USB Type-C (PD): 5V—3A
9V—3A, 12V—3A, 15V—3A
9V—3A, 12V—3A, 15V—3A
Positioning
Static
H: 4 mm + 0.5 ppm
V: 8 mm + 1 ppm
V: 8 mm + 1 ppm
PPK
H: 5 mm + 0.5 ppm
V: 10 mm + 1 ppm
V: 10 mm + 1 ppm
RTK
H: 7 mm + 1 ppm
V: 14 mm + 1 ppm
V: 14 mm + 1 ppm
Tilt compensation
RTK + 2 mm + 0.3 mm/°
Convergence time
~5 s typically
Connectivity
LoRa radio up to 1W
Frequency range
868/915 MHz
Power
0.1 W
Distance
Up to 8 km
UHF radio up to 2W
Frequency range
410–470 MHz
Protocols
TRIMTALK 450S**
Modulation type
GMSK
Wi-Fi
802.11a/b/g/n
Bluetooth
5.1 (BR/EDR + LE)
Ports
RS-232, USB Type-C
LTE Modem
Regions
Global
Bands
FDD-LTE: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28
TD-LTE: 38, 39, 40, 41
UMTS (UHPS/FDD): 1, 2, 5, 8
Quad-band, 850/1900, 900/1800 MHz
TD-LTE: 38, 39, 40, 41
UMTS (UHPS/FDD): 1, 2, 5, 8
Quad-band, 850/1900, 900/1800 MHz
SIM card
Nano-SIM
Data
Corrections
NTRIP, RTCM3
Position output
NMEA, LLH/XYZ
Data logging
RINEX, NMEA, LLH/XYZ, UBX
Internal storage
16 GB
GNSS
Signal tracked
GPS: L1C/A, L2C, L5
GLONASS: L1OF, L2OF
Galileo: E1-B/C, E5a, E6
BeiDou: B1I, B1C, B2a, B3I
QZSS: L1C/A, L1C/B11, L2C, L5
NavIC: L1-SPS Data, L5-SPS
GLONASS: L1OF, L2OF
Galileo: E1-B/C, E5a, E6
BeiDou: B1I, B1C, B2a, B3I
QZSS: L1C/A, L1C/B11, L2C, L5
NavIC: L1-SPS Data, L5-SPS
Number of channels
672
Update rates
up to 10 Hz
Free Lifetime Emlid Support
Community
Join the Forum and Facebook User Group to connect with Emlid users from around the world and exchange experiences with other experts in your industry.
Expert assistance
When you choose the Reach RS4, you get lifetime access to our expert support team. We're here to help with anything you need within 24 hours or less. We also provide video tutorials and quick-start guides, so you can learn at your own pace and make the most of your RS4.